Quicker and Cheaper is seldom better

Over my 22 years in the custom home building business I’ve run into the following scenario over and over again.  In fact I’ve done it myself.  It’s like walking to close to a Cholla cactus…if you’re smart…you only do it once.  If you’re not you can extract painful needles time and time again.  Some people never learn.

It’s that propensity people have to choose the cheapest solution or to choose the lowest bidder.  There isn’t such a thing.  In my experience the lowest bidder always costs more at the end of the day.  You’re either constantly correcting the work, the job doesn’t get finished, and you have to hire another to complete it, or you get into a legal entanglement.  There’s one that nobody wins…except legal counsel.  So if you want to guarantee that you pay more….hire the one that costs least.

I’m going out on an appointment this morning to help someone who didn’t choose McCreary Homes about 10 or 15 years ago because of price, but now has a problem with their home that the original contractor won’t show up to correct.  This is even after a corrective work order from Arizona’s Registrar of Contractors was issued and ignored.  I don’t how some guys continue to be in business.  Interestingly enough the people I’m going to help out have become friends over the years through some other mutual friends.  When we first met they felt a little bad for selecting the other guy, but that was fine, I know how compelling the low number can be when you’re building a custom home and trying to squeeze everything you can out of what little income you have.   The custom home design phase is euphoric.  You want to select all the things you’ve seen in magazines, at a friends home, or at your local “Street of Dreams”.   This allure is powerful.

Two other quick examples and then I’ll end with a quote from John Ruskin.  The first prospective customer chose another builder because they said they could build the home in 12 months instead of my estimated 14.  The home was structurally complicated.  The bids were very close for a 1.5 million dollar home….it came down to the promised time frame.  The building site was very tight and a prior home had to be demolished before construction could begin.  The other contractor had mostly commercial experience and I don’t think realized access would be such a limiting factor.  At the end of the day…the project went on for about 2-1/2 years and…get this…the contractor is suing the owner for the extra time it took.  That blows my mind.   The second prospective customer chose a design / build architect who does a great job at design, but doesn’t have as good a handle on the building side.  I respect and admire good design and good architects.  In fact I think design is everything and you have to have natural ability (like a musician) to do it well.  Building, or putting the pieces together comes naturally to me.  It’s good to have an architect that knows a little about building….and to have a builder who knows a little about good architecture and design.  The combination produces beautiful projects.  Back to the second prospective customer…the design/build guy went bankrupt.  When I looked at this cost breakdown I could see why.  There’s no way you can build this particular home for as little as he had in his cost breakdown.  The owners called me wondering if I remembered them.  I did.  After the tale of woe and visiting at the half finished home, I gave them a proposal to finish the home.  They went with a cheaper guy again.  I haven’t kept close track but do recall driving by that area several months ago and noting that the home wasn’t done yet.  I’ll have to check it out now that this blog has been created.

I’ll end with a quote by John Ruskin 1819 – 1900 entitled…

“The Lowest Bidder”

“It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little.  When you pay too much you loose a little money…that is all.  When you pay to little, you sometimes loose everything, for what you bought is incapable of doing what it was bought to do.

The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot…it can’t be done.  If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run.  And…if you do that, you will have enough to pay for the something better.

There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.”

Best regards

LJ McCreary

www.mccrearyhomes.com

www.tucsonluxuryrenovation.com

Renovate your home to take care of the folks…a personal reflection

In a recent posting regarding renovations and additions I mentioned one of the benefits is to be able to care for your parents instead of having them move to a nursing facility.  We did this to our home several years ago.  The level of care we’re able to provide my mother has made a big difference for her in the golden years.  She’s 91 and in good health except for her vision.  With glaucoma, macular degeneration, and a partial retinal occlusion (several years ago), she can only make out vague shapes.  being able to have her own “apartment” attached to our home makes life a little better.  The kid’s (18 and 22) come buy for dinner occasionally, she can sit out on the back porch in Tucson, and has friends that pick her up 3 times a week for exercise class. I think it’s a good example for our kids as well.  They enjoy being around their grandma.  She certainly put up with me as a kid and perhaps young adult.  She even puts up with a bit now…but she is my mom…some things never change…OK I’m working on it.  All-in-all, it really seems like the right thing to do.  And when I’m able to sit back and reflect …like to write this blog…I feel good about the decision.  Did I mention my wife’s a saint.

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes, Inc. and Tucson Luxury Renovations

The phones are ringing….Benefits of Custom Luxury Renovation

I received a call today from someone who has owned a prime building site in Tucson and is now ready to build.  Another call several weeks ago to extensively renovate and update his home is further evidence that people are ready to make it happen.  This brings to mind a quick thought for those who can’t quite find the resources or are on hold for a new custom home.

A custom luxury renovation may be the answer.  You can update that tired worn out kitchen and take advantage of all the new technology and appliances that are available today.  Stone or granite counter tops are one of the many man made stone or quartz products with antibacterial properties.  Or perhaps turn your master bedroom and bath into a real master suite.  Detached guest houses allow a person to create a separate private environment.  Give guests their own private retreat.  If they stay a little longer than planned…it won’t matter.  Perhaps a place for mom and dad as they grow older and need a little extra care and you don’t want to have them go into a nursing facility.

The other great thing about building a detached guesthouse is you can accommodate a media room, kitchenette, wine cellar, work out room, private office, or other space that may be difficult to fit into an existing floor plan.  Sometimes it’s difficult (i.e. expensive) to get the traffic patterns to work out right when dealing with an existing building.  You could spend more money trying to “marry” the new spaces you want up to you’re existing floor plan than you would if you just detached the area. Connect with a breezeway or porch cover.  Design it in the same architectural style as your home.

Another good reason to renovate or add on is that you love your neighborhood.  You’d like a new house, but you don’t want to live anywhere else.  Everyone knows the three most important things in real estate….location, location, location.  There are fewer goods spots to be in, especially if your’e  in one of those cool old historic neighborhoods.  Or perhaps you live in a great place like Tucson Country Club, Ventana Canyon, La Paloma, or Skyline Country Club where there aren’t any more lots…or at least very few.  In fact, locations like Tucson Country Club and Skyline are of the age that renovation makes sense to increase the value of your home by updating. Contribute to the planet with energy saving and green technology.  Tucson Electric Power has a rebate program that pays for about 1/2 the cost of solar voltaic collector, and I believe they are now even buying back electricity. Or in the current market it may make sense to buy an old home in these great neighborhoods, remove it and build a new one. It doesn’t cost much to demo and haul off an old home.  That’s certainly not a new idea but there are some great deals out there right now and I know investors who are doing just that.

Stay tuned for more thoughts on Custom Luxury Renovation in Tucson

McCreary Homes is excited about expansion into this market.  We’ll soon have a website devoted to the benefits and cool things you can do without leaving your current address.  Check us out at www.tucsonluxuryrenovations.com

Take care

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes, Inc.

The residential building market is loosening up in Tucson AZ

It looks like things are beginning to move forward again.  In recent conversations with architects, developers, subcontractors, and suppliers in the Tucson area one reoccurring comment is “we’re seeing projects loosening up and people are moving forward”.  Several prominent local architects have mentioned that they’ve gotten the go ahead to complete plans and finish construction documents on projects have been on hold for the past 6 months.  A local developer I played golf with this weekend is going to break ground on several model homes in June at a new zero lot line development.  One of McCreary Home’s future clients is also back on track completing architectural plans and moving ahead.  There’s a lot of pent up demand for building custom homes.   Architectural plans are complete for many high end custom luxury homes in Tucson.  Quite a few people put their dreams on hold when the economy and their portfolios took a down turn. You can’t hold people back…they’re going to find a way to generate what they want, be creative and move forward.

Local community banks are still in good shape because they weren’t involved in the high volume sub-prime lending that went on with large national lenders. As one executive at the bank put it “we’re in great shape…we’ve always concentrated on the basics…block and tackle”.  These small locally owned community banks are another case of small business coming to the rescue and being the real backbone of this wonderful country.  It’ll be nice when our leaders realize it.

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes, Inc.

It’s been hot in Tucson, AZ

Clear blue sky’s and gorgeous evenings and mornings are what it’s all about in Tucson, AZ.  If there is a place to live and move to during these interesting times then Tucson is it.  Economically you don’t have to worry about staying warm.  It’s been in the 80’s and low 90’s the past week.  A little unseasonable, but should return to normal.  I’d take it any time compared to rain, sleet, snow, ice and freezing temperatures. This is the time to build a custom home in Tucson according to a recent speaker from Northern Trust Bank.  There has been a slight reduction in costs which are suspected to level out in the fall and then start an upward trend.  A possible marketing strategy for a land owner would be to build a custom home on their property that would be ready to sell in 18 months or so depending on the size of the project.  This would take advantage of lower costs to both design and build and would bring the home on the market just the right time for the recovery cycle.

Best regards

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes, Inc.

Accenture match play golf in Tucson Arizona

We had gorgeous weather weather for the Accenture match play World Golf in Tucson last week.  It was a good week for golf and a good week for Tucson.  The Tucson Conquistadors put on an amazing tournament.  With weather like that and a venue as terrific as the new Ritz Carlton golf course we’re sure to attract more people to the the area who need to build a custom home.  Of course McCreary Homes will be there to take care of the most discriminating.

It was great to see Tiger Woods back.  Phil Mickelson, Ernie Ells, Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim, all incredible players.  It’s unbelievable how far and how well all the guys on tour can hit the ball.  Rory McEllroy…at 19…wow what poise

As we’re all aware the housing market and economy overall is suffering.  My prediction, especially with last week (Tucson having the golf, rodeo, and spring training), is that when the housing market bounces back, the custom market in  a place like Tucson will be first.  We’re starting to see a glimmer here and there….permits up slightly in last month….a few reports  about subs getting more work and seeing building plans to price out come across their desks.  Optimism is something we need to project.

Best regards

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes, Inc.

Landscape – the icing on the cake for custom luxury homes

As a custom luxury home builder in Tucson AZ for over 20 years, I’ve noticed one item that often doesn’t get enough credit or enough budget.  Landscaping.  Especially in Tucson, where people choose to move to from all over the country.  They come for the weather, to be outside, to get away from the cold and constant overcast.  I know …. I’m one of them.  When folks visit friends or just come out for a vacation, they fall in love with the place, and some decide to design and build their dream home.

Understandably the design process focuses on the home itself.  The number of bedrooms and baths, perhaps an open floor plan for a more casual relaxed lifestyle, a home theater room to take advantage of technology, steam showers, whirlpool baths, flat screen TV’s in almost every room, large kitchens with islands, double dishwashers, built in ovens, refrigerators, and coffee makers, and large Wolf or Viking ranges.

But…the icing on the cake, and how you feel about your home starts with the exterior.  It’s that sense of pride of ownership you get as you drive up to it day or night.  Landscaping makes the difference.  From the front to the back.  My recommendation is too hire a landscape architect as part of the design team early on.  Begin planning your back yard oasis from the start.  It’s where you’ll spend a lot time relaxing, dining outside, swimming, entertaining.  With a completed landscape plan you’ll know how much it costs, how much to budget.  You can weigh the cost of outdoor living with the other choices you’ll be making inside.

Rather than sticking a dollar allowance figure in your budget to cover future landscape, actually price it out so the money is there and you can finish your home the way it should be and the way you’ll love it.  There are always changes and modifications you want to do as your home is being built.  As it takes shape you’ll see something you couldn’t visualize on the plans or something new will come out that you have to have.  Modifications usually get paid for out of pocket and are not a part of the construction loan.  The long and the short of it is unless you have the correct amount of money set aside and in the budget for landscape you probably won’t have enough to complete the project and have it be as wonderful as possible.

Here are some photos of a couple landscape projects McCreary Homes have installed in Tucson.

Regards

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes, Inc.

Trends in Tucson Custom Luxury Homebuilding

When recently asked “what trends do you see in Tucson custom home building” LJ McCreary took a look at projects McCreary Homes currently have under construction.

One trend I’m seeing is the addition of a steam shower in either the master bath room or in combination with an exercise room. The exercise room itself is also a fairly recent trend although not as recent as steam showers. One might not think people would want or need a steam shower in Tucson, but it proves to be a great way to get inhalation therapy and provides great health benefits. We usually build our own steam showers with custom tile, over durock, over plastic sheeting, over foam insulation as opposed to buying a package unit. This allows for custom details, a higher level of finish, and no limitation to shape and size. You just add a steam generator and the proper piping and fittings and you have it. A wide variety of aromatic oils can be introduced into the unit to add to the benefits.

Master bathroom deck mount whirlpool tubs are becoming more interesting and design oriented all the time. The last one we put in had a vanishing edge waterfall feature and special lighting built in to produce Chromatherapy. The tub is called the “sok® overflowing bath for two with effervescence and chromatherapy”, manufactured by Kohler.

Also in the master bath we’re seeing much more extensive equipment and far as valves, shower heads and body sprays in the master shower.

Another trend is the use of manufactured stone slabs for kitchen and bath countertops. Granite has been very popular over the years, but the manufactured stones that have become available provide a wider choice of colors. Some stones like CesarStone come with additives that make them mold and mildew resistant. Check out the web site for more information.

And last (at least for this post) but not least is the trend toward wall mount flat screen TV’s in just about every room in the house. A dedicated media or home theater room is also becoming more common place in high end custom luxury homes. This is a huge topic that deserves it’s own post. People spend anywhere from $10,000 to $120,000 on this part of the home.

Those are just a couple of trends McCreary Homes has been part of in Tucson. Stay tuned for more cool products and trends.

Best regards

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes, Inc.

Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry goes Green

Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry has erected a green home building exhibit design by architect Michelle Kaufmann. As a kid growing up in Elkhart Indiana (about 2 hours from Chicago) the museum was larger than life and a favorite place to spend time. To this day I find it a fascinating building and enjoy visiting whenever we’re in town. Hats off to the museum for hiring Kaufmann to design this educational exhibit. Green is definitely in the public’s awareness, and will be showing up in building across the country. As a custom luxury builder in Tucson Arizona, McCreary Homes is getting more requests to use green building techniques and products all the time. Here’s a link to the article in the DailyIllini.com

Chicago is an awesome place!

Thank you

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes, Inc.

Architecturally significant Tucson home gets a renovation

Here are some shots of a home that was really fun to build on a very difficult site. As a relatively new builder in Tucson, I recall looking up at this home thinking it would really be cool just to be able to go up and look at it some time….I got my wish and then some. Following is my description of the home for our web site and the owner’s response to working together.

This is the highest home in the Catalina Foothills at an elevation of 3,860 feet, and was originally built in 1975 by a prominent Tucson sculptor. The modern home of colored split face block & glass peeks through a saddle in the mountains high above Ventana Canyon Resort. When originally built, Ventana Canyon didn’t exist. In fact there were only a few buildings North of Sunrise and east of Kolb. It was all natural Sonoran desert. LJ McCreary recalls looking up at the house when he began building in 1988 thinking “man I’d sure like to go up and see that house sometime”. When one of his former clients approached him and said they were thinking about purchasing and renovating this architecturally significant home, LJ’s wish came true. Michael Franks of Seaver / Franks Architects began the plans for an extensive renovation.

Extensive wasn’t the word for it….2 years and $1.8 million dollars later…. created an architecturally sensitive renovation and addition that the owners are absolutely thrilled with. The owner’s primary concern was to maintain the architectural sense that the home was “of the mountain”. He also wanted the original owner to like what we were doing. The home was a sculpture in and of itself.

The building site was challenging. Concrete trucks could only be filled up ½ way in order to make it up the steep twisting driveway, split face blocks had to be individually hand carried around the opposite side of the existing home and slid down a wooden shoot one at time to build a 36 foot tall 3 story staircase. Foundations were anchored with steel re-bar drilled and epoxy set directly into bedrock. A 22 foot high negative edge pool retaining wall was built in similar fashion. The roof was removed as well as all interior walls. The lower floor level was lowered 3 feet into the existing bedrock. Everything was removed except the exterior walls, and then we started working on those, cutting in openings and shoring up for large panes of glass. A natural rock face that cascaded through 2 stories of the original home was hydraulically hammered out and removed. A steel bridge with custom glass side panels was built to access guest bedrooms on the upper floor. Because the home was anchored directly to the bedrock; a drainage system was installed beneath the lower floor so the mountain could drain as water came up through fissures in the rock. All in all it was a total transformation of the flow and feeling of the interior space while maintaining the architectural integrity and significance of the exterior.

Here’s what our client has to say about working together.

LJ McCreary was recommended to us by a real estate broker who specializes in selling high end lots, not homes. We figured she knew what she was talking about and decided to work with him.

From the beginning to the end of the building process, our experience with LJ and McCreary Homes was painless; LJ stayed in frequent communication with us via email, telephone and video updates, as we were out of state when our home was being built. He had good relationships with all his subs and we knew he was on top of everything that was going on.

McCreary Homes absolutely delivered on every promise they made, they just never let us down in any way. The overall quality of our home, as well as the customer service was outstanding in every detail. Any little problems that came up, LJ worked on it until it was fixed.

After the first home, LJ McCreary’s trustworthiness, followed by his excellent technical skills and experience encouraged us to go with him a second time. McCreary Homes was a winning combination in our opinion. And if we ever built a third home, he’d be the only contractor we’d call.

We’ve really had a great experience. There has been no area where we could say there was room for improvement. LJ’s even got a great sense of humor!

LJ McCreary comes from the Midwest, and so do we. He’s a real, down-to-earth person, who isn’t a flashy or slick salesman, which is good. He’s totally honest, ethical, and really takes an ownership interest in every project he works on. Our second home that LJ worked on was a very, very complicated renovation. Initially, our architect wasn’t sure LJ was “up to” the project, but we told him we would ONLY work with him. Not only did LJ do a great job, but our architect has since recommended him for other projects!

We would recommend McCreary Homes and LJ McCreary to anyone.

Best regards

LJ McCreary

McCreary Homes